# Countdown

> A big on-screen timer for breaks, timed activities and transitions — start, pause and reset it while you present.

Source: https://engageslide.com/knowledge-base/content-slides/countdown · EngageSlide Help Center · Content Slides

## What is Countdown?

A **Countdown** slide shows a large timer in minutes and seconds (for example 1:30) counting down to zero, with a title above it. Use it for a coffee break, a “discuss with your neighbour” moment, silent thinking time, a timed group task, or to build a little suspense before a reveal. When the time runs out the slide shows **Time is up!**. You control it with buttons on the slide or with the keyboard, and you can set it to start by itself when the slide comes up.

Video tutorial: [Countdown — video tutorial](https://youtu.be/LR1NpE4JSlw)

## Create a Countdown slide

1. On **Home**, click + Create new presentation (or add a slide to an existing one).
2. In **Choose Slide Type**, pick **Countdown**. You can also type it into Search slide types….
3. The slide is created and the right panel opens on the **Content** tab.

## Set up the content

1. Type a title in the title field (_Enter your question or title_), for example Coffee break — back in 10 minutes. Use the buttons above it for alignment, bold, italic, size (in px) and colour.
2. Optional: click **Add description** for a short note; it appears as a tooltip when you hover over the title on the slide.
3. Under **Settings**, type the **Countdown duration** in seconds — for example 300 for 5 minutes. The slide shows it as minutes and seconds.
4. Switch on **Auto start countdown** if the timer should start by itself as soon as you present the slide.
5. Want to check it? Click **Start** on the slide in the editor to run a test, then **Reset**.

![The Countdown editor — slide list, live screen with join code & QR, and the content panel](https://engageslide.com/images/kb/countdown-editor.webp)

## Countdown settings

- **Countdown duration** — How long the timer runs, in seconds (at least 1). A new Countdown slide starts at 45 seconds. Changing it resets the timer on the slide.
- **Auto start countdown** — On: the countdown starts by itself when the slide is shown in presentation mode. Off (the default for a new slide): it waits until you click **Start** or press Space.

## On the audience side

The countdown is shown on the big screen only. Participants’ phones show _View on presenter screen_ while this slide is up, so everyone looks at the shared timer.

## View results

No responses are collected. Below the timer you get **Start**; once it is running, **Pause** and **Reset**; when paused, **Continue** and **Reset**. While presenting, Space or Enter starts, pauses and continues the timer instead of moving to the next slide. At zero the slide shows **Time is up!** with a **Restart** button that runs the timer again, and Space / Enter go back to moving to the next slide. Leaving the slide and coming back resets the timer to the full duration (and starts it again if **Auto start countdown** is on).

> **Tip** — Turn on **Auto start countdown** for breaks, so the timer is already running when you switch to the slide and walk away. Leave it off for activities, so you can explain the task first and press Space when everyone is ready.

## Ways to use a Countdown

- **Breaks:** _Coffee break — back in 10 minutes_ (600 seconds).
- **Think time:** 60 seconds of silent thinking before an Open Ended or Word Cloud question.
- **Group work:** _Discuss with your table_ for 3 minutes (180 seconds).
- **Before the session:** a short countdown while people join and settle in.

> **Good to know** — The timer runs in the presenter’s window only — it isn’t shown on phones. The **Pause**, **Reset** and keyboard controls work while that window shows the Countdown slide.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can I set the time in minutes?

The duration is entered in seconds: 60 for one minute, 300 for five minutes, 600 for ten. The slide displays it as minutes and seconds.

### How do I pause the timer?

Click **Pause** under the timer, or press Space or Enter while presenting. Click **Continue** (or press the key again) to carry on.

### How do I run the countdown again after time is up?

Click **Restart** under **Time is up!** — the timer starts again from the full duration. Going to another slide and back also resets it.

### Do participants see the timer on their phones?

No. Phones say _View on presenter screen_; the timer is on the shared screen.

### Does the countdown move to the next slide by itself?

No. It stops at zero and shows **Time is up!**; you move on when you’re ready.